Awnings: Sometimes It's The Little Things

Awnings: Sometimes It's The Little Things

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Dec 27th 2007, 4:43pm By queenseyes

As we all now know, installing a simple awning in the city is not always as easy as you would think. The benefits of having an attractive awning can be powerful. An awning can give someone shelter from the rain while waiting for a car, and the logo on the awning sends out a signal to shoppers who may be walking along the street. Just in time for the holidays, Neo Gift Studio landed their new awning on Elmwood. And if you look at the photo, then you will also see how nice the faux Mythos awning looks. Even though that version is only for the effect of visual appeal, it gives a soft look to the facade of the building.

This past June I posted a slide show on urban awnings detailing how effective a simple canvas covering can be when installed in a commercial district. Fortunately, Neo went a bit further with theirs... do you remember the tragic awning that once covered the facade of this building. That was back when Vitamin City occupied the interior. I still remember how excited the street was when news of the new Vitamin City was just a buzz. Then they slapped up an atrocious bright yellow contraption that made the building look like a giant yellow pill. Fortunately the awning was removed when Vitamin City closed up. Then, Junior League Thrift Shop moved in for a stint. Now Neo has installed a very simple-yet-effective awning that leads one's eye (and wallet) to the front door. I’m sure that there are a couple more storefronts on the street that could benefit from a look such as this.

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  1. RisingDamp666

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 16:49

    ...Another practical use for awnings: to slow the fall of jumpers.

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  2. BisonChipDip

    5 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 16:59

    wow, a story on awnings!

    stopmegbottoms.com

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  3. Meg_bottoms

    4 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 17:12

    Yawnings, awnings... same difference

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  4. joey

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 17:13

    AMAZING..What a different world (and set of rules) only 1 block away...on Delaware Ave. Didn't a property owner/restaurant want to erect an awning on his Delaware ave property and was denied twice....by the preservation board A FEW MONTHS AGO ??. Makes you wanna go HMMMM?

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  5. chris69

    5 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 17:41

    actually for all the gardening walks in Buffalo its suprising that so many buildings are so naked

    How wonderful would it be if a building were covered in wisteria, sweet honeysuckle, the large showy climatis or graceful green ivy

    An awning can add class and character to a building if done properly but lets not ignore greenery.

    Lets not ignore a simple pot with a dwarf alberta spruce or a pot with a box hedge.

    THE THING THAT STRIKES ME SO MUCH ABOUT SUPPOSEDLY PEOPLE FRIENDLY PLACES LIKE HERTEL, ELMWOOD, SOUTH PARK, SENECA, BROADWAY, ETC IS THAT THEY ARE TERRIBLY UNAPPEALING AND UNFRIENDLY VISUALLY, AS WELL AS TO THE PEDESTRIAN AND TO THE DRIVER

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  6. Joshua

    0 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 17:55

    chris69 - i have to ask, how would you change these places on the streets mentioned to make them people and drive friendly.

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  7. leadi

    0 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 18:10

    Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Those women always do such an amazing job inside. It is nice to see they carried their good taste out to the street. I hope other businesses take notice of how nice this looks.

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  8. bfloMatt

    0 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 18:53

    Nice addition to the building, and the street. Every bit helps makes that urban feel.

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  9. MikeLibra

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 21:04

    Way to go ladies, you always add just the right touch. Beautiful inside and out.

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  10. Denizen

    0 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 21:11

    Very classy

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  11. mbhxam

    0 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 21:21

    stopmedbottoms.com...whhhat the heck is that??? i saw it on the other string...

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  12. STEEL

    4 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 22:15

    Now they just need to update the circa 1982 logo

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  13. BetterThanDetroit

    2 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 22:24

    Meg Botoms must be stopped!!

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  14. MEC

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 27th 2007, 23:31

    If I'm not mistaken, the Mythos awning is retractable and extends over the patio during the summer...but I could be wrong

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  15. Martin

    2 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 07:47

    Classy Ladies who add style to Buffalo.

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  16. bbvdm

    7 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 08:03

    Chris69: "How wonderful would it be if a building were covered in wisteria, sweet honeysuckle, the large showy climatis or graceful green ivy".

    Are you for real??????

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  17. BuffaloRitz

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 08:59

    LUV them! They add that highend style to elmwood. I bought so many christmas gifts at neo.

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  18. BisonChipDip

    3 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 10:17

    We MUST stop Meg Bottoms, please for the love of God!!!

    stopmegbottoms.com

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  19. BisonChipDip

    4 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 11:37

    stopchris69.com

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  20. NBJOHN

    2 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 14:40

    We need more awnings on all the NoBo stacked double houses... Cover up the skeletons

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  21. chris69

    3 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 18:47

    hey it doesnt take alot of money to add alittle greenery and landscaping to a building

    landscaping hides alot of flaws and humanizes a building to both the driver and the pedestrian

    how enticing would it be to walk down a street if there was a fragrance other than fried food

    how enticing would it be to walk down a street if there were trees and other greenery to break the wind and the rain and the blowing snow

    its every bit as important as paint and maintaining masonary etc

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  22. Hoss

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 28th 2007, 20:46

    Completely agree with 69 on this one. Landscaping does wonders to an otherwise depressing looking buildings and/or streets.If Hertel Avenue Association would only take care of the tree pits instead of making silly "Little Italy" metal posts, the street would be bouncing. Would help to shed the late 70's Queens, NYC look.

    Also agree with NB about those awning-less skeletons on most doubles in this city. Put up an awning, or take down the bones already. Or maybe grow ivy on it.

    Steel is right, that Neo logo is really friggin' dated. Reminds me of an early 80's hair salon. As far as branding goes, it's retro font totally undermines the beautiful items they actually sell inside.

    I think I like the awning in this situation. Plus, it's another two places to lock a bike.:)))

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  23. RisingDamp666

    2 ratings12345
    Dec 29th 2007, 00:24

    What could be more appropriate for a 1977 awning than a "1982 logo"? I mean awnings are cheap attempts at upscaling the look of tired buildings whose owners can't or won't install a right proper canopy (or dare I say, Porte cochere). And how many awnings survive more than a couple winters? Awnings suck. And those awnings with the phone number on them? Can you say delinquent SBA loan?

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  24. gaustad

    1 ratings12345
    Dec 29th 2007, 00:38

    RisingDamp666 is my hero

    Report this

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